Our 2nd Quarter Newsletter is here.

Greetings!

We introduce you to some extraordinary people in a time of crisis.

A Message From the Dawgfather

This is not an easy time. We watched as fellow Dawgs Mike Sullivan and Jennifer Simpson were hospitalized with the virus. I’m happy to report both are now home and improving.

As always, we work to bring hope and help to families in need in the hockey community. We have met and assisted remarkable people during this crisis. Our commitment will not waiver. Thanks to your continued support, even when times are tough, we will get through this!

I wish good health for you, your family and your friends.

Martin Richardson, CEO, Dawg Nation

New Date...

The Show Must (we hope) Go On!

The 10th annual Stand UP for Dawg Nation Comedy Night has been rescheduled for June 24 ^th at Comedy Works DTC.

Josh Blue (l), Janae Burris (c) and Derrick Stroup headline what is always a special night.

Buy Tickets Here!

Thanks to Mike Raftery, the Comedy Works South staff and our fabulous comedians for their flexibility in making the new date a reality. Comedy Works South donates the venue to us and 100% of the ticket sales go to Dawg Nation.

If you have already purchased tickets they are valid for this show.

New Date...

Dawg Bowl Heats Up in Summer

Better late than never. The 10th annual Dawg Bowl has been rescheduled for July 30-August 2 at the Edge Ice Arena.

We expect 52 teams, up from 44 last year, in 8 divisions. For the first time we will have a sled bracket.

To register your team contact at Mike Freeman

As always, the highlight of Dawg Bowl will be the Survivor Game on Saturday, August 1.

Those who play in the premier event of Dawg Bowl have overcome illness and injury to get back on the ice. It's a special time for those who return to the game that they love.

The smiles from (left to right) Andy Gerrie , Dave Repsher , Danny Packard and Steve Jouflas at the 2019 game prove it! And all those who participate say the thought of playing hockey again helped them through the long days of recovery.

A Helping Paw

Giving back is what Dawg Nation is all about. In nine years we've helped over 100 families with more than $1,700,000 in recipient aid.

Bob Schoepflin has been a fixture as a player and coach in the Colorado hockey community for nearly 50 years. He is now fighting a rare form of bone cancer. And with COVID-19 he has been isolated for his safety during his treatment.

In April, the Dawgs joined with the Arvada hockey family on a surprise parade and check presentation. A long train of cars snaked past the Schoepflin house as a Bob and wife Suzanne looked on. The last truck featured the famous Big Check from Dawg Nation, this time for $10,500 to help with Bob’s medical expenses.

Shelby Otto is a 10 year old skating dynamo. In January she was diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune disease resulting in multiple seizures that nearly took her life. She spent weeks at Children’s Hospital.

In February, the Dawgs presented a check for $10,500 to Shelby’s family including dad Craig (c). Happy to say Shelby continues to recover and the seizures are under control. Shelby returned to the ice recently (above-left) thanks to Andrew Sherman who opened his rink in Monument for a private skate.

In January, Dakota Ridge High School staged its annual tribute to the military night. Dawg Nation was privileged to be a part of the event and matched the first $2000 raised by Dakota hockey team. They passed the hat at the game and the crowd came through with another $2700!

The check was presented to Justin Kresh who served 5 years in the 82 ^nd Airborne and 24 months combat service in Afghanistan and Iraq. Justin and wife Alice have a son, Talon , who has some significant medical conditions. The check will help with the medical expenses.

Thank you Justin for your service and to Dakota Ridge hockey. They wear the Dawg Nation patch on their sweaters and we couldn’t be prouder.

More Amazing Stories Here

#ThankYouNow

Mike Freeman

Executive Director

#GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, was a global day of giving in response to the unprecedented hard times caused by COVID-19. Thanks to your contributions, we raised over $15,200 to assist the hockey community.

Martin Richardson, Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation and I did an 11 hour social media GIVING BACK-a-thon. Dawg Nation is what you and all of us do together to help families in their time of crisis. I couldn't be prouder of the spirit of togetherness felt on this day.

We were privileged to have twenty video testimonials from some of the many faces and talents of DAWG Nation...celebrities, recipients, donors, volunteers and board members.

People like Graysen Cameron who survived the Humboldt bus crash, Jennifer Simpson , a Dawg Nation volunteer who beat COVID-19 and Avs Coach Jared Bednar.

These three and all of those who joined us represent a fraction of those who make DAWG Nation a generous community of dedicated ambassadors.

Dawgs in the News

Zlata Hejduk and her company, Loro Lino, are making and donating masks for people who need them most. Zlata (with Cindy Richardson) and Loro Lino have delivered over 3,000 masks to first responders, hospitals and hospices.

Zlata asked Dawg Nation for volunteers and Heidi Trubacz (l), Judy Vennard (with her children Joe and Savi) and Greta Ehlers were three of the many who signed up. And they are not finished as the work goes on!

Welcome home, Sully!

After several weeks in the ICU battling COVID-19, and spending his 77 ^th birthday in the hospital, Mike Sullivan returned home. The ordeal wasn’t over as he spent two more weeks in quarantine, living in a trailer in the driveway of his home.

“Playing hockey at my age helped my lung strength,” Mike said.

Sully was one of the first people at Dawg Nation that I (your editor) met. He walked me through the art of putting a newsletter together. Without losing patience!

Mike is with his grandson Ralph in a time before the virus. Is he ready to play hockey again? “If I can find a way to get an oxygen tank on my shoulder pads, I’m ready to go,” he said. Don’t bet against him!

Coming Up

Tee it Up for Dawg Nation returns to the sensational Highlands Ranch Golf Course on September 14. Last year you had a chance to play 18 with celebrities like Jan Hjeda (l) and Milan Hejduk (r). You will have the same opportunity this year!

We raised over $100,000 in 2019. Ev ery penny after expenses goes to assist those in the hockey community.